BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 1345
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Date of Hearing: June 26, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
SB 1345 (Evans) - As Amended: May 10, 2012
SENATE VOTE : 25-9
SUBJECT : State government: Commission on the Status of Women.
SUMMARY : Revises and recasts the topics which the Commission
on the Status of Women (Commission) is required to study and
review, and allows specified members to vote by proxy.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes Commission members who are Members of the
Legislature to vote by proxy.
2)Repeals and adds priority topics that the Commission is
required to study, to include:
a) Educational needs of women and girls;
b) Women's economic opportunities and employment rights;
c) Needs of working women, including, but not limited to
leave, child care, and pay equity;
d) The effect of the state budget on women and children;
e) Violence against women, including, but not limited to,
human trafficking;
f) Women in the military and military families; and,
g) Allows the Legislature to recommend to the Commission
additional study issues relevant to women.
3)Authorizes the Commission to review the implementation of any
law to ensure that the law is not discriminating against women
or creating an inequitable environment for women.
4)Authorizes the Commission to urge the introduction of
legislative proposals to correct inequities in the state
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budget.
5)Makes findings and declarations.
EXISTING LAW
1)Creates within state government, the Commission, consisting of
17 members, including certain Members of the Legislature.
2)Provides the Commission with the powers and authority
necessary to carry out the duties imposed on it, as specified.
3)Authorizes the Commission to study specified topics.
4)Authorizes the Commission to inform the Legislature of its
position on pending legislation and to urge the introduction
of legislative proposals.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the Author's office, "This
measure would save the Commission, even if it's only a shell
until funds become available. The Governor had proposed to
eliminate all funding for the Commission on the Status of Women
through his proposed budget as well as through trailer bill
language."
Background . The Commission is a nonpartisan state agency
established in 1965 to promote equality and justice for all
women by advocating on their behalf to the Governor, the
Legislature and other public policymakers. The Commission
consists of a 17-member body including the Superintendent of
Public Instruction, the Labor Commissioner, three
Assemblymembers and three Senators. Nine of the 17 members are
public members: one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly,
one by the Senate Committee on Rules, and seven are appointed by
the Governor.
According to its mission statement, "the Commission is a
nonpartisan state agency, works in a culturally inclusive manner
to promote equality and justice for all women and girls by
advocating on their behalf with the Governor, the Legislature
and other public policymakers, and by educating the public in
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the areas of economic and educational equity, access to health
care including reproductive choice, violence against women and
other key issue areas identified by the Commission as
significantly affecting women and girls."
Support . The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
writes in support, "this bill would maintain the Commission on
the Status of Women's ability to address the current needs and
issues relevant to women. The Commission's availability as a
resource on the needs of women and girls is a significant
benefit to the state. Their work helps ensure that state policy
makers consider the concerns of more than 50% of the State's
population."
Related Legislation . AB 2330 (Olsen) of 2012, eliminated the
Commission and repealed its powers and duties therein. This
bill failed passage in the Assembly Business, Professions and
Consumer Protection Committee.
The Governor's Reorganization Plan No. 2 (GRP2 ) seeks to
eliminate the Commission. On June 6, 2012, the proposal to
eliminate the commission was discussed in full during one of
four GRP 2 special committee oversight hearings. This issue and
the reorganization plan are currently pending by the Special
Committee on the GRP 2.
The Governor's 2012-2013 budget proposal called for the
elimination of the Commission for a savings of $270,000 General
Fund in 2012-13. In response, the Legislature announced an
agreement providing $150,000 from the Assembly's budget to
reestablish partial funding. On June 15, 2012 the Assembly
passed a budget that contained approximately $270,000 for fiscal
year 2012-2013, for the Commission.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
Consumer Federation of California
American Civil Liberties Union of California
National Association of Social Workers-California Chapter
Opposition
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None on File.
Analysis Prepared by : Elissa Silva / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301